Wedoany.com Report on Mar 6th, The Lower Thames Crossing project in Essex and Kent has commenced preliminary preparatory work, with around 50 archaeologists conducting excavations near Coalhouse Fort to uncover and protect the area's cultural heritage. Simultaneously, ground investigations are underway to better understand soil, rock, and groundwater conditions, providing a basis for the detailed design of foundations and structures required for the route. This project is a key transport infrastructure initiative planned by National Highways, aiming to alleviate congestion at the Dartford Crossing by providing new road and tunnel links between Kent and Essex.
Sean Pidcock, Delivery Director for the Lower Thames Crossing, stated that with construction preparation work underway, the project has made substantial progress. Low-carbon construction methods will make this crossing the UK's most environmentally friendly road and create local job opportunities and skills training. Later this spring, works will transform an area of scrubland larger than 30 football pitches near Coalhouse Point, East Tilbury, into wetlands for migratory birds and wading birds. The creation of 'scrapes', ponds, and ditches filled with tidal water through excavation will provide habitats for water voles and newts. East of Tong Village in Kent, new habitats with ponds, trees, and hedgerows will also be created, after which archaeologists will begin work in the southern tunnel entrance area east of Gravesend.
The project team has established the first site compounds near East Tilbury, Thurrock, and near Tong Village, Gravesend, including worker facilities and storage space for machinery, equipment, and materials. To minimize impact on local roads, construction vehicles will use temporary 'haul roads' to travel between compounds and work sites. One compound is already operating six hydrogen generators, alongside new electric drills and excavators. The project recently procured the largest single batch of low-carbon hydrogen ever for a construction project. Later this year, the project will also begin relocating gas, water, electricity, and telecoms lines along the route to secure supplies for London and the South East.
Local job seekers and businesses will have numerous opportunities to get involved. The Lower Thames Crossing plans to recruit nearly half of its workers from within a 20-mile radius of the project and spend at least one-third of its construction budget with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The project will open permanent skills centres in Gravesham and Thurrock, offering local residents free opportunities to learn new construction skills. The public is invited to a series of community roadshow events, with the first held in East Tilbury on March 9th, and nine more to follow over the next four weeks. The project has received planning consent and public funding and is expected to open in the early to mid-2030s, boosting the UK economy by almost doubling road capacity across the river east of London.
